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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: tube · bass · fall · swing · track · pass · bore · trunk

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. bore — to tire
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. tube — a container
  8. swing — music
  9. fall — to drop
  10. track — a song
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bore — to drill
  13. track — to keep track
  14. fall — to drop
  15. track — a path
  16. bass — the fish
  17. swing — to play on
  18. fall — the season
  19. pass — a permit
  20. bass — low music
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. swing — in golf
  23. tube — the underground
  24. trunk — of a tree

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com